R erban



I Re. 18,175

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. ERBAN ATTORNEY Original Filed Nov.

GEARING FOR TRANSMITTING ROTARY MOTIONS Sept. 1, 1931.

Sept. 1, 1931. r ERBAN Re. 18,175

GEARING FOR TRANSMITTING ROTARY MOTIONS Original Filed Nov. 27,- 19 22 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I IN ENTOR BY IB} M ATTORNEY Reiaued Sept. 1, 1931 V UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICE RICHARD ERBAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T ERBAN PATENTS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION .OF NEW YORK GEARING FOR TRANSMITTING ROTARY MOTIONS Original No. 1,585,140, dated May 18, 1926, Serial No. 603,418, filed November 27, 1922. Application for reissue filed May 12, 1928. Serial No. 277,346.

My invention relates to a gearing for transmittlng rotary motion by a series of rolling bodies moving in a manner resembling that of planet wheels, or in which the race rings may rotate in opposite diretions, and in which the pressure exerted upon the rolling bodies is proportional to the circumferential force.

In order to realize the last named condition,

it has been proposed to split one of the race rings and to expand or cont'ractit responsive to the circumferential force or torque. This,

however, results in a discontinuity of the race surface interfering with the smooth running of the gearing; moreover, the uniformity of the charge comingon the rolling bodies is not reliably obtained in the gearings known heretofore.

The present invention relates to a gearing of the class referred to, in, which the proper ratio between the pressure exerted between rolling bodies and the race surfaces and the circumferential force is obtained by mounting one or both race rings loosely on their shaft and causing them to revolve with the shaft by the interposition of a pressure exertirfg device producing an axial component acting to force the rolling bodies against their race rings and proportional to the torque.

Further, the invention consists in providing means for exerting a uniform pressure on all the rolling bodies. This result is obtained by making the race rings or race ring systems freely adjustable relatively to each other; the adjustment may be effected by various means, such, for instance, as universal in longitudinal sectionpartly in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of an embodiment comprising two sets of balls and a divided inner. race ring.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of an embodiment having rolling bodies in the form of rollers,

one divided and one undivided race ring.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment with ring provided with rolling bodies spherical in shape and the self-alignment of one race ring where a universal joint is adapted at the same time to serve as pressure devices. The inner race ring 1 is mounted loosely on its shaft 12, the outer 'race ring 2 being secured to the casing 11. Provided between the two race rings are rolling bodies 3 in the shape of balls, which while moving in the manner of planet wheels actuate studs 9 projecting from a flange 8 on a shaft 13 thereby revolving the latter. The required pressure between the rolling bodies and the race rings is produced by inclines and cooperating balls 4,4, 6, the race ring land the face of the universal joint ring 5 adjacent thereto being provided with two diametrically opposed inclined plane surfaces symmetrically arranged and inclined toward the axis of the shaft, balls being interposed between the recesses in the race ring and the universal joint as shown in Fig. 1; in some cases it may be p)referable to make the recesses asymmetrical.

n the other side of the universal joint ring 5 there is provided another universal joint ring 7 also having recesses with inclined plane faces revolving with the shaft 12 but adapted to slide axially thereon. The axial pressure exerted by the ring 7 is transmitted through the ball bearing 10 to the casing 11 acting in turn on the outer race ring 2 so that all axial forces are taken up by the gearing itself, and the shafts 12 and 13 are under no axial strain. A spring 14 is provided to produce a slight initial pressure required for starting.

Instead of the axial pressure being taken up by a hearing which involves losses, it may be. utilized for producin the required presdiscs with spherical rolling surfaces and are ,sure on the rolling bodies 3, 3' whic sure in another system 0 race rings and rolling. bodies symmetrical to the s stein '1, 2, to secure a dou le torque with no t rust bearing losses. Fig.2 shows such an embodiment in which, however, instead of a self-aligning ringla spheric al race surface is used. 1, 1 is t e dividedinner race and 2 is the outer race havin a spherical race surface for obtaining a ree self adjustment of the two systems 1, 1' and a uniform pressure on all the balls even in case of slight inaccuracies; 3, 3' are the spherical rolling bodies bearing on the studs 9 projecting from the flange 8 of the hollow shaft 13;these studs may carry.

rollers on which the balls 3 act in order to reduce friction.

The requied pressure betweencthe balls and the race rings is produced b asystem of inclined plane surfaces and alls 4, 4'

interposed between the race rings 1, 1' and the opposed sides of the driving ring 7. Two a} springs 14 and 14' produce. the initial axial ressure. The race rings 1, 1' are absolutely reely movable axially on the shaft 12 and only the driving rin 7 is fixed to the shaft. Also inthis case bot shafts 12, 13 are'free from any axial thrusts and transmit only torques. v

Theconstruction shown in Fig. 3 is preferable for great ratio;v jtdilfers from the construction shown in Fig. 2 in that the drivingiing 7 is divided into two halves, adapted to moved towards each other for increas-,

ing the pressure. The rolling. bodies are free to revolve on the studs 9. This construction may also be used'with ball bearings. In all the embodiments above described, the shaft 13 may be held Stationary 'a-nd the outer race rin or rings may be caused to revolve, in WhlCh case the shaft 12 will be the driven shaft.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the gearing which besides acts difl'erentia-lly without requirin any thrust bearing for taking up the axia ressure between the race rings and the rollin bodies. The two inrfer race rings 1, 1 are orced apart by the driving ring 7 and the inclines 4, 4' are such as to apply a varying pressure in proper pro-' portion to the torque, thereby exertin presthus roll on the outer race rings 2, 2 actuating the studs 9, 9' on the shafts 13, 13. The outer race rin are'secured in the casing 11 and the driving ring 7 is fast on the shaft 12; the spring 14 provides for theinitial pressure between the rolling bodies and race rings. For securing the free adjustment the outer rings 2, 2 have a spherical surface, but this result may be secured by any other of the meansabove described. When the shaft 13, 13' is directly driven by a motor, it drives in turn the shaft 12 and the basing 11, thus producing differential action.

In all these cases, instead of spherical rollin bodies also conical, double conical,

cylin rical or others may be used provided Y thatv the race surfaces e correspondingly shaped and the leverage or ratio of the angular velocities of thedriving and driven shaft may be varied. The automatic adjustment -of pressure between the race rings and the rolling bodies above described may be applied to any well-known variable speed friction gearin and more particularly to such gearlngs 0 this class comprising a set of double cones between four race rings, or having rocking rollers between race rings having concave generatrlces. Or any ball or roller hearing may be converted into a self adjust- I ingfriction gearing by providing it with one or more pressure devices.

Fi 5 shows a construct-ion in which one set- 0 balls rolls between four race rings of which 1 and 1' are the inner and 2, 2 are the Outer ones; 3 is one of the balls, 4, 4' are the inner and 6, 6' the outer pressure exerting ,in this case it is desired to secure the proper pressure between the balls and race rings for all leverages, the ressure exerting devices must cause the prodhction of a pressure varying as the balls rise on the inclined surfaces of the race rings. This one can accom lish .by making variable the Inclination o the surfaces on which the balls 4 and 6 bear, for instance, by making these inclined surfacesin the form of helical surfaces having a variable itch.

In t e same way a roller bearing having rollers with convex generatrices as shown in Fig. 6 may be used as. a variable speed gearing. This construction closely resembles that'shown in Fig. 5, therefore the stud :carrier is omitted and thepressure exerting devices are merely positlons at 4, 4 and 6, 6'.

An important feature, however, is that the centre of curvature 16', 16' of the generatrix of the roller is about in the middle between its centre 17 and the periphery of its greatest circle,.in order to secure that the roller axis 15, 15' may adjust itself as reliably indicated by their as ossible parallel to the shaft 12.

n Figs. 5 and 6 two of the pressure exertingdevices, for instance 4 and 4' or 6 and 6',

PI'BSSUIG exerting I'lIlgS. 25

may be dispensed with, in which case the race rings have to be adjusted relatively to each other by screws or the like. In all the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 to 6 only one pressure exerting device may be sufiicient, no matter where it is located.

In Figs. 7 to ,18 some of the most important embodiments of pressure exerting devlc'es are shown which are based on the use of balls betweeminclined surfaces on the rings. Instead of balls also cylinders, cones or other revolving bodies may be used, provided the incline-d'surfaces on the rings be correspondingly shaped. Furthermore cams, levers, toggle levers or the like may be interposed between the pressure exerting rings in such a manner, that, when such rings turn relative to each other an axial force is set up.

. In all the Figs. 7 to 1 8, 5 and 7 are the pressure exerting or incline rings or their active surfaces, as the rings may be made integral with some other parts of the structure. 6 are the rolling bodies'interposed between the In Pg. 7 a section of the pressure exerting rings on the dash and dot line Fig. 8 is shown along which the rolling bodies roll on the said rings. 18, 19, 20 and 21 are the contact points of the balls 6 with the rings 6 and 7. On turning one ring relative to the other round their common axis the ball rolls along the curves shown forcing the rings apart; the axial force exerted thereby on the rings depends on the form of the curves. In Fig. 7 only a diagrammatic form is shown. The surfaces on which the balls roll maybe of various shapes, the rolling curves remaining always the same.

The shape of the surfaces may be selected according to the strain or pressure to be exerted on the ball taking into account also the easy manufacture of these surfaces. In Fig. 8 curved pressure surfaces or inclines 22, 23 are shown and in Fig. 9 a conical surface 24, the generatrix of which may be straight or curved. Fig. 10 shows two heli cal surfaces 25, 26 and Fig. 11-two inclined or oblique'toroid surfaces 27, 28. In Fig. 7 both incline rings have the same shape but in some cases it may be desirable to make them different in shape. When more than two pressure rollers 0r balls are to be usedwith the rings, the construction shown in Figs. 12

to 15 permits to obtain a snug fit of all the balls, independent of the accuracy of the distribution of the inclines on the faces of the rings; in 'Fig. 12 the ring 5 has a planeface while the ring 7 is provided with inclines 22. In order to reliablyprevent the ball 6 from sliding on the ring 5 under all conditions, the ring 5 is provided with a groove 29 as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. For the same purpose the surfaces may also be shaped as shown in F 1 5 where the ring 5 has an inclined concave face 30 and the ring 7 a conical face provided with inclines 22.

Figs. 16 and 17 show a construction in which there are provided two outer rings 5,

5' having conical pressure surfaces 31 and 31' respectively, while the inner ring 7 is c l ndrical and provided with longitu inal grooves 32. Then the inner ring is turned relative to the outer ones 5, 5', the latter are a be used for operating the pressure exerting a device asshown in Fig. 18. As the aha ft con-- nected with. the cage 33 is turned the ball 6 tends to roll along the surface 24 of the. ring 7 and the face 30 of the ring 5 whereby an axial force is exerted on both rings.

Besides these embodiments many modifications and combinations may be devised. All these devices have the feature in common that a set of two or more rolling bodies when rolling on appropriate surfaces sets up an axial force which is proportioned to the torque or circumferential force transmitted.

Obviously other modifications of the shape of the race rings and the rolling bodies as also of the pressure exertin device may be devised without departing from the essence of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. In .a friction gear, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, races androlling bodies interposed between said shafts, operative connections between said rolling bodies and one of said shafts, one of said races being mounted on said driving shaft, a fixed race against which said rolling bodies bear, and a pressure device interposed between the drive shaft ,and driving race adapted to produce the required pressure between said races and rolling bodie's, and acting directly only on the race mounted on said driving shaft, transmitting its entire pressure to said race.

2. In a friction gear, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, races and rolling bodies interposed between said shafts, operative connections between said rolling bodies and one of said shafts, one of said races being loosely mounted on said driving shaft, so as to be capable of rotation thereon, a fixed race against which said rolling bodies bear, and a pressure device interposed between the drive shaft and driving race for coupling said driving shaft with said race and adapted to produce the required pressure between said roll- -mounted on said drivin;

ing bodies and races, said pressure device acting directly only upon the race mounted on said driving shaft, transmitting its entire pressure thereto, therebycoupling it with saiddrivin shaft.

3Q In a 'riction gear, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, races and rollingbodies interposed between said shafts, operative connections between said rolling bodies and one of said shafts, one of said races being loosel y mounted on said driving shaft, so as to be capable to rotate thereon, a fixed race against which said rolling bodies bear, a pressure device interposed between the drive shaft and driving race for coupling said driving shaft with said-race and adapted to produce the required 'pressurebetween said rolling bodies and races, said pressure device acting only upon said loosely mounted race transmitting its entire pressure thereto, and means for equally distributing the pressure exerted by said pressure device along the whole circumference of said race.

4. In a friction gear, a drivin shaft, a driven shaft, races and rolling b0 ies interposed between said shafts, operative connections between said rolling bodies and one of said shafts, one of said races being loosely shaft and capable to rotate thereon, a fixe race against which said rolling bodies bear, a pressure device in- V terposed between the drive shaft and driving race adapted to producethe required pressure between said races and rolling bodies and comprising a number of pressure plateseach having inclined faces arranged in series, and a pair of balls between two adjacent plates are shaped with varying inclined faces, the center line of said balls betweentwo adjacent pairs being at an angle relative to each other, so as to allow free adjustment in every direction.

5. 'The combination as set forth in claim 4, in which the inclined faces in said pressure (pitch for varying the axial pressure on sai races.

6. In a friction gear, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, races androlling bodies-inter posed between said shafts, operative connections between said rolling bodies and one of said shafts, one of said races being mounted on said driving shaft, a second race against which said rollin bodies bear and a pressure device interpose between the drive shaft and driving race adapted to produce the required ressure between said races and rolling bodies and actin directly only on the race mounted on said riving shaft transmitting its entire pressure to sald race.

7. In a device of the character described, a plurality of torque transmitting members, means for driving one of said members from another, comprising a system of races and rolling bodies, means for converting the torque of one of said members into an axial component operative upon the races and rolling bodies to produce that pressure betweenthe races and the rolling bodies which is required in orderto maintain the proper frictional driving contact for the particular torque being transmitted and always varying with the torque being transmitted so as to maintain the proportionalit thereto, and means for applying said axia component directly and entirely to one of the race rings.

8, In a device of the character described, in combination, "a plurality of torque transmitting members, operative connections be tween said memberscomprising a system of races and rolling bodies, means for automatically converting the torque of one of-said members into an axial component which is that required for the particular torque and which varies with the torque and is always fixedly proportioned, and means for transmitting said entire axial pressure directly and entirel to oneof the race rings.

9. In a (fevice of the character described, in combination, a, plurality of torque transmitting members, operative connections between said members comprising a system of races and rolling bodies, andmeans responsive to the torque of one of said members for applying pressure thereto, said system being automatically self adjustable soas to produce a uniform pressure on all points of contact between the races and the rolling bodies.

10. -Ina device of the character described, in combination, aplurality of torque transmitting members, operative connections between said members comprising asystem of races and rolling bodies, and means responsive to the torque of one of said members for applying pressure thereto, one of the race rings of said system being automatically self adjustable so'as'to produce a uniform pressure on all points of contact between the races and the rolling bodies.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, a plurality of torque transmitting members, operative connections between said members comprising a system of races and rolling bodies, and means for automaticallyconverting the torque of one of said members into an axial component which is" that required for the particular torque and which varies with the torque andis always fixedly proportioned, said system being automatically self adjusting so as to cause the pressure at all the points of contact between the race rings and the rolling bodies to be uniformly applied.

12. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a plurality of torque trans mitting members, Operative connections between said members comprising race rings and rolling bodies, the torque of one of said members for producing pressure uniformly between all the points of contact-of the rolling, bodies and the race rings, said means comprising an auine and means responsive to 

